We’re joined by Jim Byrne, a public school teacher in Tucson, Arizona and a leader in the state’s ongoing teachers strike. We talk about the #RedForEd movement, how the Arizona teachers organized for this historic strike, the attitude of union leadership towards the strike, and more. We think teachers and union members will get a lot out of Jim’s interview with us, which is full of concrete advice, strategy and tactics. You won’t want to miss it.

We also riff on the historic peace talks in the Korean Peninsula and Burgerville workers becoming the first legally recognized fast food union.

New York labor lawyer Benjamin Dictor joins us for a hard-hitting interview on labor law in the U.S. and the recent victory earlier this year by LA Times reporters and staff, who won their union campaign after 136 years. Ben serves as legal counsel for the NewsGuild in New York, who organized the LA Times, and spoke with us about this and more at the 2018 Labor Notes Conference in Chicago, IL. You don’t want to miss his story about putting the Vegan Bernie Madoff behind bars for wage theft.

We hit on the Arizona teachers’ vote to walk out as #strikefever continues, Trump’s missile attacks on Syria, JetBlue flight attendants voting to unionize, and NYC construction workers fighting back against anti-union attacks by contractors.

We’ve also got our UPS Contract Update of the week, and slam the Company’s proposal for a 70-Hour work week for package car and feeder drivers.

At the Labor Notes Convention in Chicago, IL, we sat down with some of our Teamster brothers from Local 89 out of Louisville, Kentucky, home of Teamsters United leader Fred Zuckerman.

Joining us for the hour are Jay Dennis (Political Organizer & Business Agent), Stephen Piercey (Communications Director) and Bryan Trafford (Shop Steward). We talk about what makes Local 89 a fighting Teamsters local, in contrast with the business unionism we see in so much of the labor movement today.

Throughout the episode, you’ll hear us riff on the ongoing UPS contract negotiations, organizing non-union workplaces, especially in core industries, and building a fighting local union that mobilizes the rank-and-file. We cover strategies for organizing Amazon, the teachers strike in Kentucky, and developing independent political action for the working class.

Local 89 has dynamic leadership with vision for building a fighting working class movement in this country, from their President Fred Zuckerman at the top all the way to rank-and-file shop floor leaders. We think this unique aspect really comes out in our interview, and we think Teamsters and union members across this country will learn a lot from listening to it.

Stay tuned at the end where we do a special Blue Moon of Kentucky edition of “Working Class Heroes & Ruling Class Assholes.”

At the 2018 Labor Notes Conference in Chicago, IL, we interview Sarah Chambers from the Chicago Teachers Union and Edwin Morales, Vice President of the Puerto Rico Teachers Federation, about the wave of teachers strikes in the U.S.

Edwin talks about the planned May 1 Teachers strike in Puerto Rico and the fight against privatization. Sarah talks charter schools with us and the fight to win decent funding for public education in Chicago. We all talk about the need for militant union leadership and riff on our favorite moments fighting management.

Arizona’s on our mind as we talk about the self-driving Uber car that killed a woman last week and the Phoenix teachers walk-out at nine elementary schools. We do a deep dive on Trump’s tariffs and anti-China trade measures, explaining why this actually hurts the working class and only helps the bosses.

We’ve got a new segment where we rip apart this crappy anti-worker meme and talk about the Fight for $15/Hour.

There’s a UPS contract update in here too. We riff on the Toys-R-Us bankruptcy and a recent public sector union strike in France. And we name our Working Class Hero and Ruling Class Asshole of the week.

Strike fever continues as the squad talks about the Jersey City Teachers strike last week, billionaires, and Florida public sector unions fighting against decertification.

We’re joined by AFSCME Council 79 union representative and Jacksonville Community Action Committee co-founder Michael Sampson (@BrotherFlourish on Twitter), who offers some insight on why and how the working class should fight against racism. And we roast a certain National Review article calling for public-sector unions to “be destroyed.” Stay tuned for our Working Class Hero and Ruling Class Asshole of the week at the end.

We’re back for Season 2 to talk about the strike fever that’s sweeping the nation’s teachers – from West Virginia to Oklahoma. We talk about Teamsters United’s recent steward victories in Jacksonville, FL, and International Working Women’s Day. We take a look at the looming economic crash coming in the near future, roast scabs like Mark Janus, and name our Ruling Class Asshole of the week.

Dave & DP return for part 2 of their coverage at the TDU Convention. They interview union fighters across the country about the struggles facing Teamster women, the fight for $15/hour, building solidarity between Black and white workers, and the soul and direction of the Teamsters union.

Dave & Dustin interview Fred Zuckerman, president of Teamsters Local 89 and last year’s Teamsters United candidate for General President, on the Worker Power Hour. We talk everything Teamsters – the UPS contract fight, the pension crisis, organizing Amazon, hurricane relief in Puerto Rico, and taking a stand against white supremacists.

We also interview Kas Schwerdtfeger, package car driver and Teamsters Local 344 shop steward, about the new Amazon Key delivery program and the future of the Teamsters.

Part 1 of our two-part Worker Power Hour special at the Teamsters for a Democratic Union convention in Chicago.